As we’ve seen during our journey through Lent, it is easy for us to lose focus and be distracted by the unimportant or the urgent of what is at hand. In this Easter season, we are reminded through Christ’s Resurrection that we are constantly given opportunities for rebirth, new life, and new beginnings.
Continue reading “Drawn To What Matters”
Do I recognize the miracles in my life?
As we live Authentically Yours, as God’s beloved, we are confident God’s Mercy Endures Forever: let us be His Light. As we have journeyed through Lent and an intensified Holy Week, I hope your heart is rejoicing and full of light in the fact that God’s mercy endures forever. He is risen! He has risen, indeed! Alleluia! I hope your faith has been strengthened and your heart has been lovingly pruned and purified so it is bursting with love. Christ suffered greatly to grant us access to eternal life. The time is now for us to mature spiritually and Be His Light in the world.
Continue reading “Easter Sunday: Jesus’ Resurrection! He is Risen!”
How do I honor my family and friends that have died?
On Holy Saturday, we are in a time of sadness and loneliness as Jesus lies in the tomb. However, while we are in this day of waiting and watching, we are comforted in the knowledge that Jesus will rise from the dead on Easter Sunday, securing our eternal salvation and conquering death by the sacrifice of His life. Jesus, the spotless, pure Lamb of God, paid the penalty for our sins by this sacrifice, conquering death both spiritually and physically. We are assured that we now have the opportunity to join in eternal life with God after our earthly journey has been completed.
Continue reading “Day 46: Holy Saturday. Jesus in the Tomb “Do I forgive my enemies?
Good Friday is the most difficult day of the year. Jesus’ journey, which began with praise and adulation on Palm Sunday, now turns to the pain and sorrow of being falsely accused, condemned, mocked, tortured, abandoned by most of His followers, sentenced to death, crucified, and then dying and buried. I walk along this journey on Good Friday with Jesus through the Stations of the Cross and recognize the role that my sin played in Jesus’ crucifixion and death.
Continue reading “Day 45: Good Friday. Jesus’ Trial, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial “How have I offered myself in humble service to others?
We have spent the past 40 days of Lent renewing and reinvigorating our faith in preparation for Easter. The sacrifices and penances we have made have softened our hearts to be ready to enter the Easter Triduum — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil — in which we commemorate the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Easter Triduum allows us to walk in Jesus’s footsteps during His final hours on earth.
Continue reading “Day 44: Holy Thursday. Passover/Last Supper/Mandatum (Washing of the Apostles’ Feet)”Do I take care of myself and get proper rest?
It is now Wednesday of Holy Week. The Bible does not tell us what Jesus did on this day, but we can imagine that Jesus, after the exhausting events in Jerusalem since Palm Sunday, took this day to rest with his disciples ahead of the Passover celebration. Resting has been part of our Salvation history from the beginning. The Bible tells us that after God had completed the work of creation, he rested on the seventh day: “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating” (Genesis 2:3). The Gospels are filled with references of Jesus taking time to rest, to pray, and to restore Himself. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus not only offers us rest, but He models for us the way to do so.
Continue reading “Day 43: Wednesday of Holy Week. Jesus Rests Ahead of Passover “Have I betrayed God?
It is hard to think about betrayal. We all want to believe we are loyal and true in our relationships. But there is confusion and difficulty when our hearts are involved. Relationships can be difficult and we need mercy and compassion to make them work.
Continue reading “Day 42: Tuesday of Holy Week. Jesus Visits the Mount of Olives/Judas Negotiates the Betrayal of Jesus “Do I live out my faith in service to others?
On this Monday of Holy Week, we follow Jesus after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem that we celebrated on Palm Sunday. Today, Jesus, along with his disciples, entered the Temple. Seeing the money changers in the Temple, Jesus overturned their tables and cleared the Temple. As related in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus stated “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Luke 19:46). Part of the symbolism of Jesus’ actions that day demonstrates to us that faith is much more than outward religiosity that was taking place in the Temple; faith must bear spiritual fruit in the life, heart, and soul of each believer and be shared with others.
Continue reading “Day 41: Monday of Holy Week. Jesus Cleansing the Temple “How did I praise God today?
As we contemplate Holy Week on this Palm Sunday, we must remember what our Lord endured for our salvation. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin on the altar of the cross and washed away our sins with His blood. We must also recognize our responsibility to ask for forgiveness for the sin in our life. For it is sin, big and small, that made Christ suffer the torment of the cross. Our crucified Lord on the cross is a vivid image of His love for us. Meditating on His Passion strengthens us against temptation, moves us to frequent confession, and keeps us on the path of salvation. Through our praise, we give away ourselves and live in the right order. Jesus gave His all for you and me but can we really say we do the same in return?
Continue reading “Day 40: Palm Sunday. Jesus’ Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem”Seeing Miracles
In scripture, we read about the miracles Jesus performed as signs while here on earth. Like in Luke 11:14, Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Continue reading “Day 39: All for God’s Glory”
Smitten With Goodness 